大学英语精读4,作文

Unit 1 Kid 1:The pay is too low. We workers will get five dollars each. And both of you will collect hundreds. That isn't fair. Kid 2: Five dollars per hour. Otherwise, we'll quit. Boss 1: Geez, that's too much. What do you take us for? Boss 2: Millionaires, huh? Kid 2: Millionaire or no millionaire, we don't care. What we care about is you ought to pay us reasonably. Boss 1: You know, besides your wages, we have to pay for the gasoline and buy gifts for our neighbors who have helped us a lot as you must have seen. That'll be a lot of money. Kid 3: We don't intend to put you in an awkward position. But we do deserve more. Boss 1: How about, say, one dollar and a half per hour? Kid 3: Three dollars. Boss 2: (shakes his head) No. Kids (almost in chorus) Two dollars, no less. Bosses (nod to each other) Done! Unit 2 The modern world gets most of its energy needs from coal, oil and natural gas. These sources have one thing in common: once they have been taken from the depths of the earth, they can never be replaced. Naturally, their reserves tend to be on the decrease. However, as economies develop, the world demand for energy is growing enormously day by day. It is quite obvious, therefore, that we are threatened with the approach of energy crisis. What, then, can we do to prevent energy crisis? The answer lies partly in practicing conservation of resources. Large amounts of energy are being wasted in all sections of the modern society so that the present major energy sources will be used up much sooner than expected. If we heighten our awareness of the urgent need to conserve energy, however, we will be able to make the sources last a lot longer. Of course, conservation is not the perfect solution to the energy problem. Eventually, sources like coal and oil will be exhausted. But there are many other energy sources that can be used in place of them, such as nuclear power, wind energy and solar energy. Scientists are now doing their best to develop new sources of energy, which is our hope for the future. We are convinced that so long as both solutions are applied, energy crisis can be prevented. Unit 3 Why Should We Attach Importance to Both Theory and Practice? It is generally accepted that theory is based on practice. Galileo, for example, based his studies of natural laws on experimentation and observation. It was by observation that he proved the theory that the sun is the center of the solar system. Likewise, Comrade Deng Xiaoping's theory concerning the building of socialism with distinctive Chinese features has been established on the basis of revolutionary practice in China today. Beyond doubt, there can be no scientific theory without practice. It is also certain that theory, in turn, serves practice. For instance, astronomers apply theories about the heavenly bodies to foretell eclipses and suchlike. Another case in point is, again, Comrade Deng Xiaoping's theory, which guides the Chinese people on their way to building a prosperous and powerful socialist society. Practice without theory as its guide is like a ship sailing into a port without a pilot. The consequences can be disastrous. In view of the above, we can safely conclude that it is highly important to combine theory with practice in our work. We must never ignore one in favor of the other. Unit 4 How to Win the War against Terrorism Few can doubt the harm terrorism produces. News of death and suffering caused by terrorist attacks on innocent people going about their everyday lives is far too common. What can bring one human to behave with such cruelty towards another? Some terrorists may claim that the injustice their group has suffered is so great that any means are justified. They may argue that those stronger than them have used force against their people and that terror is the only weapon left to the weak. Yet such arguments only lead to the ruin of more innocent lives. Two wrongs do not make a right. What can be done to solve the problem? One tactic must be better protection through increased security, making attacks easier to uncover and prevent. Another is to attack the root cause of terrorism, the sources of injustice that fuel its support. Neither task is easy. Unit 5 May 8, 1998 Dear Sir, I am writing in response to your advertisement in today's Guangming Daily. I wish very much to be considered for the position referred to. I feel that I am competent to perform the duties outlined in your advertisement, for my education and experience are both in line with the requirements of the job you offer. I am twenty-five years of age, and a graduate of Fudan University with a bachelor's degree in business administration. Since my graduation in 1996, I have held a job as a salesman in a trade company, where my performance is highly appreciated. Now I would like to move on to a position that requires more individual responsibility. Your advertisement indicates to me that the job opening in your company is exactly what I am looking for. It is the kind of challenge I'd like to meet. If you feel that I might be qualified for the post, I should welcome an interview any time at your convenience. Enclosed you will find my résumé and a recent photo of myself. Yours faithfully, Zhang Huaping Unit6 How to Improve Your Reading Comprehension As our studying is mostly done through reading, it is self-evident that we should endeavour to improve our reading comprehension. The best way you can become a good reader is through practice. You cannot read a few paragraphs just once in a while and become a fluent reader. You need to read constantly. It is advisable to carry something to read with you wherever you go. Whenever you have the chance, take it out and read a paragraph or two. Once you have made reading a habit, your reading is bound to benefit. To improve your reading comprehension, you also need to develop certain reading skills. For example, a poor reader tends to move his eyes from word to word whereas an efficient reader will move his eyes from thought group to thought group. To pick up speed and fluency, therefore, you should learn to read in thought groups. Mastering such reading techniques is the key to effective reading. Unit 7 Sam went to the cinema the other night, but he didn't enjoy it. Entering the cinema, Sam thought of taking off his coat. But the cinema turned out to be very cold and he had to keep his coat on. As there wasn't much space between the rows, his legs began to ache shortly after he took his seat. Worse still, he found it difficult to breathe easily. Looking about, he saw a lot of people were smoking. At last the film started. To his annoyance, the person in front was wearing such a big hat that he could hardly see the screen. To top it all, people all around him made a lot of noise, some telling jokes, others laughing loudly, not to mention a child crying out with pleasure. Needless to say, Sam missed most of the dialogue. He couldn't bear to sit out the rest of the film and went out of the cinema into the cold night in a fury. Unit 8 Effects of Technological Advance on Humankind Technology has brought immense benefits to humankind. Take a look around and you'll find examples too numerous to list. Electric appliances like microwave ovens have rendered our home life much easier and more enjoyable. Also, if you wish to travel to another city or country, the airplane will take you there within a matter of hours. What's more important, the use of advanced technology has made possible enormous increases in our food production capacity, enabling the world's fast-growing population to maintain at least an acceptable standard of living. On the other hand, however, technology has created problems that may threaten human existence. A major hazard is pollution. Indisputably, we have little chance to survive while the land, water and atmosphere are seriously polluted. Furthermore, technology can expose mankind to such threats as a nuclear war. Confronted with the two sets of consequences, we must keep a clear head. Personally, it is important to realize that without technological advance there can be no further progress for human civilization. At the same time, because of the associated hazards, the use of technology must be subjected to careful planning and firm social control. Unit 9 As early as I was a high school student I decided to dedicate myself to medical science. This important decision in my life had a great deal to do with my uncle's sudden death. It was like this: One day when I came home from school I was shocked to hear my aunt crying with deep grief. Upon inquiry I learned that my uncle, who had been ill with hypertension for years, died of cerebral haemorrhage that very afternoon. While mourning my uncle's passing I recalled that hypertension was also the root cause of my grandfather's death and my father was afflicted with the same illness. Obviously it is mostly a hereditary disease, able to be passed on through the genes of a parent to a child. So there is a chance I may suffer from it too. As time went on, I uncovered more about hypertension. For one thing, at present it is impossible to effect a permanent cure of the disease. For another, it causes thousands upon thousands of deaths every year. It became clear to me that we got to find ways to make the incurable disease curable and save millions of lives. A likely victim of the disease, I made up my mind that one day I would join hands with the scientists in trying to solve this knotty medical problem. Unit10 True Happiness and Hard Work Some people think that health is essential to happiness. Others believe wealth makes them happy. Still others of a strong intellectual turn of mind look upon wisdom as the source of happiness. In a way, they all have a point. However, health, wealth and wisdom are not gifts dropped from the heaven, but rewards of your own efforts. For instance, you have to work very hard in order to earn your share of money. Indeed, it is work that helps make us healthy, wealthy and wise. True happiness, to my mind, comes first and last from hard work. We derive great satisfaction from our work also because work constitutes a contribution to the modernization effort. As masters of our country, we feel duty bound to do our bit for socialist construction and take pride in the fact that our joint efforts are bringing prosperity to our motherland. And then again, we are eager to become more knowledgeable about and efficient in our lines of work. Work, more than anything else, provides us with the much-desired opportunity to learn and improve ourselves.